Kingston Chamber Singers, the area's newest choir, is finally poised to give its first performance in Kingston a year late.

The Singers' inaugural concert was meant to take place at All Saints' Church last December but had to be cancelled at the last moment because so many of its members were struck down by flu.

They made their first appearance last April in a concert at Twickenham. Now, in good health and voice, they are presenting a Christmas programme at the Stanley Picker Gallery on the university's Knights Park campus next Thursday.

The choir, specialising in contemporary choral music, was originally formed by Benjamin Costello, a Kingston University music graduate, and fellow students keen to break away from the standard choral tradition of rehearsing week after week during a season.

Instead they prepare with intensive rehearsals a week or two ahead of a performance to preserve freshness and spontaneity.

Thursday's concert will include works by William Mathias, John McCabe and Karl Jenkins.

December 14, 2001 15:00